Chris Wrenn of Bridge Nine on The New Scene Podcast

Episode 147: Chris Wrenn of Bridge Nine Records. Available now on all platforms.

Keith sits down with @chrisb9 to discuss the early days of @bridgenine , how Chris leveraged a long-standing sports rivalry to fund the label, the label's breakthrough release of the first American Nightmare 7", Bridge Nine's growth over the years, how Ben Affleck ended up wearing Bridge Nine gear, what to expect next from Chris and the label plus more. Give it a listen HERE!

Boston invades Europe: Takeover Tour 2023!

Europe, are you ready? This winter Boston is headed your way with SLAPSHOT, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, AMERICAN WAR MACHINE and RISK representing! Check out the dates below

Chris B9 on the You Had Options Podcast

New episode is up with Chris Wrenn from @bridgenine records and @sullysbrand! Great talk with Chris about the history of both the record label and clothing brand. Go visit the new Bridge Nine/ Sully’s store in Beverly, Mass! Audio version is up wherever you get podcasts. Video version link HERE!

Bridge Nine Welcomes NYC's ROLL CALL - Six Song EP Streaming NOW!

We are thrilled to announce a new band and new music today! New York’s ROLL CALL have signed with Bridge Nine Records. Guitarist Brian Kemsley (Outbreak) and drummer James Philips (Sea Haven, Final Fight) wrote 6 songs in November 2021 before recruiting bassist Cornell Ward and vocalist Chad Leddy for the recording of their EP Perpetuate this past summer. When its members aren’t providing public services in New York City (Chad working as an NYFD firefighter, Brian Kemsley stopping kidnappers), Roll Call is making fresh and uncompromising New York hardcore that you absolutely can’t miss. Listen on Bandcamp or any streaming service, check out the teaser video below, and order the cassette tape HERE (12" EP to follow in 2023).

War On Women Announce East Coast Tour Dates to Close Out 2022

War On Women have announced an east coast US tour with Cancer Bats and Spaced! They kick off the tour on 11/28, performing in Boston at The Middle East Upstairs. Tickets go on sale on tomorrow, 10/7.

Five New 25+ Years of Bridge Nine All-Silver Anniversary Editions Available Now!

When Bridge Nine reached our silver 25th anniversary, we began releasing special “All Silver” editions of some of our heaviest hitters. Silver vinyl, silver labels, and album artwork converted to black and white and printed on silver board to commemorate the event. Each pressing is limited to 1,000 copies and only available for a limited time. Grab one while you can HERE!

The Silver Edition lineup so far:

1. American Nightmare "Year One" - SOLD OUT

2. Ceremony "Rohnert Park" - SOLD OUT

3. H2O "Self-Titled" LP (in partnership with Blackout!) - Available Now!

4. Terror “Lowest Of The Low” LP – Available Now!

5. Death Before Dishonor “Count Me In” LP – Available Now!

6. H2O “Nothing To Prove” LP – Available Now!

7. Have Heart “Songs To Scream At The Sun” LP - Available Now!

8. Have Heart “10.17.09” LP – Available Now!

Bridge Nine Records NOW OPEN In Beverly, Massachusetts

Bridge Nine is proud to announce that we have opened our new flagship retail store at 282 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. Just 35 minutes north of Boston, this former 1930s-era car dealership-turned-glass-company has been painstakingly renovated over the past 18 months to turn an old drab showroom into a beautiful modern boutique to showcase our label and the music that we love. In addition to Bridge Nine, we are sharing this space with Sully’s Brand, the Boston-centric apparel brand founded in 2000 by B9 founder Chris Wrenn. To raise the money needed to push his bands, Chris ventured to the Fenway neighborhood with his roommates and members of the bands that he was promoting to sell the stickers and t-shirts that helped fuel the biggest rivalry in baseball between Boston and New York. Every dollar earned was invested in recording new albums, pressing vinyl records, buying plane tickets and vans for bands to tour the world in, helping put the Boston music scene and the Bridge Nine label on the map. Their effort was so successful that it became a second business, and Sully's was born.

Come visit both brands and say hello!

 

Our hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday 11am-5pm
Thursday 11am-6pm
Friday 11am-6pm
Saturday 11am-6pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Chris Wrenn outside of the new Bridge Nine & Sully’s Brand storefront.

Bridge Nine Records (Beverly, MA) Grand Opening on 9/10/22

Almost a year and a half after we started gutting an old car dealership-turned-glass-company to be the new home of Bridge Nine Records and Sully’s Brand, we are pleased to finally announce that we will be opening to the public on Saturday, September 10th at 11 am! Please join us in celebrating what has been the wildest project we’ve ever taken on! We’ll have new pressings of vinyl and apparel that will be available for the first time. Save the date and if you’re on Facebook, let us know you’re coming via our event page HERE!

Can't make it to Grand Opening day?

We'll be open Sunday, September 11th as well, 11 am - 6 pm. Following our grand opening, our initial hours will switch to the below schedule. You can always check our Instagram or Twitter as well for any schedule changes or announcements.

Monday - CLOSED*

Tuesday - CLOSED*

Wednesday - 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday - 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Friday - 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturday - 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday - 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

*If you are in town on a Monday or Tuesday and want to stop by the shop, email us at info@bridge9.com or stop by! We are here daily working at the warehouse and would be happy to come out and help you in the store.

Getting Here

Our new store is 35 minutes north of Boston. If you're driving, there is plenty of street parking available along Rantoul Street and the first 20 minutes are FREE to park. You can also take the Newburyport commuter rail from North Station to Beverly. Beverly is the 5th stop out from North Station, however, they're doing work throughout September on the rails so check the MBTA website for any travel updates.

What is Sully's Brand?

For those who don't know, Chris Wrenn originally started Sully’s Brand as a way to fund the release of records on Bridge Nine. This led to a decades-old tradition of hardcore/punk musicians selling ‘Yankees Suck’ & “Believe In Boston” merch after Sox games. Now in its 22nd year, Sully’s Brand has become a beloved New England institution and its trademarked slogan Believe In Boston has brought New Englanders together on more than one occasion. Sully's Brand helps locals represent their favorite Boston teams, with our line of supersoft vintage-style tees, hoodies, banners, glassware, gifts and more!

What else is in the area?

The Beverly/Salem area makes for an awesome daytrip. First off, there are 4 other record stores within a couple miles of us...

RECORD STORES

• Soundtracks - Shop owner DJ 7L combines his interests of Music and Film with a handpicked selection of records both new & used at his new shop, Soundtracks, which is located just up the street from us at 265 Cabot St in Beverly.

• Residency Records - Check out the new Residency Records location at 7 1/2 Church St in Salem. Owner Breaux Silcio's new space is about 5 times larger than his original space near the Satanic Temple, where the store operated for the last 4 years, and is now one of the largest independent record stores in Massachusetts.

• The Record Exchange - The Record Exchange is one of the oldest used brick & mortar record stores in the United States, founded in Salem in 1974. This is a great place to find some rare gems.

• Beverly Coin & Estate Shop - Don't let the name fool you - this is where you go to find rare, vintage vinyl and I'm probably breaking an unwritten rule of the North Shore by sharing this hidden gem of a shop. Beverly Coin is located just up the street from us at 38 Rantoul St and you could easily spend hours finding gold here. Happy hunting!

COFFEE

• Crave - 199 Rantoul Street, Beverly

• Kid Dream - 5 W Dane St, Beverly

• Atomic Coffee - 268 Cabot St, Beverly

• Odd Meter - 60 Washington St, Salem!

EATS

• The Castle* - 240 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Taku Sushi Bar - 289 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Anmol* - 258 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Soall Vietnamese Bistro* - 211 Rantoul St, Beverly

• FRANK Restaurant + Market - 112 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Delphine's French Kitchen* - 261 Cabot St, Beverly

• A&B Burger - 206 Cabot St, Beverly

• Jodi Bee Bakes* - 282 Derby St, Salem

• All Souls Cafe* - 282 Derby St, Salem

• Spitfire Tacos* - 105 Lafayette St, Salem

• Flying Saucer Pizza* - 118 Washington St, Salem

• Melt Ice Cream* - 60 Washington St, Salem

*Vegan friendly

SHOPS

• Soy Much Brighter - 285 Rantoul St (across from us!)

• Worthy Girl - 276 Cabot St, Beverly (across from Soundtracks)

• Simply Placed - 281 Cabot St, Beverly

• Copper Dog Books - 272 Cabot St, Beverly

• WKND - 269 Cabot St, Beverly

• Paper Asylum - 260 Cabot St, Beverly

• Unpacked Living - 156 Cabot St, Beverly

• Die With Your Boots On - 9 Church St (next to Residency Records), Salem

• Oak + Moss - 143 Washington St, Salem

• HausWitch - 144 Washington St, Salem

• Witch City Wicks - 302A Essex St, Salem

• Black Veil Shoppe - 137 Boston Street, Salem

MORE...

• Garden City Tattoo - 330 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Old Planters Brewing Co. - 232 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Channel Marker Brewing - 95 Rantoul St, Beverly

• Gentile Brewing Company - 59 Park St, Beverly

• Backbeat Brewing Company - 31 Park St, Beverly

• Notch Brewing - 283R Derby St, Salem

• Witch Dr - 109 Lafayette St, Salem

• Seagrass Dispensary - 3 Dodge St, Salem

War On Women Kick Off UK Tour

War On Women kicks off their summer UK tour this evening - their first UK show since 2019. They’ll be supported throughout the next few weeks by deux furieuses. Be sure to check them out if they come through your town!

Redemption 87 "All Guns Poolside" LP (Silver Vinyl B9 Exclusive, ltd. to 100) ***UPDATE: Sold Out!***

***UPDATE: SOLD OUT*** Head to Blackout Records HERE to find another variant of this LP that is still available!

Bridge Nine is very proud to offer a special metallic silver vinyl edition of the Redemption 87 “All Guns Poolside” LP, from our friends at Blackout! Records. Grab one HERE, while you can!

Not familiar with Redemption 87? They were an East Bay hardcore-punk band that featured members of Unit Pride, Skankin’ Pickle and Token Entry and were influenced by NYHC bands like Youth of Today, Sick of it All, Warzone and Gorilla Biscuits.

This album originally came out in 1999, with the band breaking up shortly after. Guitarist Jade Puget continued on in AFI (he joined in 1998) and vocalist Eric Ozenne formed The Nerve Agents. Give them a listen!

Redemption 87 “All Guns Poolside” B9 exclusive - 100 copies on silver vinyl

'This Is Hardcore' Celebrates Another Successful Fest After 2-Year Pandemic Hiatus

Congratulations are in order for Joe Hardcore and the This Is Hardcore team on another successful festival. This Is Hardcore Fest takes place in Philadelphia each year and kicked off on Thursday, July 7th with a headlining set from H2O. The days that followed included sets by Section H8, End It, Hatebreed, Madball, Comeback Kid, Terror and culminated on Sunday evening with Thursday performing Full Collapse in its entirety (pictured above, photo by Wass Photography). We wish we could have been there, especially since it was the first fest since 2019, but we are all hands on deck working to finish the Bridge Nine space here in Beverly, MA. We hope to see everyone at This Is Hardcore Fest next year!

Striking Distance Announce Two Shows in July

Striking Distance have announced that they will play two shows this July! First up, they’ll be playing on Friday, July 22nd in Baltimore, MD as part of the record release show for End It, a fantastic hardcore band and one of my recent favorites. Then, they’ll be playing Saturday, July 23rd in Richmond Virginia with fellow heavy hitters BURN, Crown of Thornz, Naysayer and End It. These will be incredible shows so check them out if you can.

July 22 - Baltimore, MD Tickets

July 23 - Richmond, VA Tickets

Chris Wrenn feat. on One Step Beyond Podcast's 100th Episode hosted by Aram Arslanian (Champion, Betrayed)

One Step Beyond Podcast - Ask Aram (100th Episode Special)

Aram Arslanian (Champion, Betrayed), in addition to serving as President & CEO of his leadership coaching company Cadence Leadership, also hosts an awesome podcast called One Step Beyond. The podcast is a weekly business and education series focusing on transformation through leadership. Aram hosts and interviews people who are creating change in business and in their community, many of whom are either directly related to the punk/hardcore community or a few degrees of separation away, like artist Linas Garsys, Jordan Cooper (Revelation Records), Kurt Ballou (Converge, God City Studios), Joe Nelson (Trust Records), Armand Majidi (Sick Of It All), Karl Hensel (Kings Road Merch) and Sunny Singh (Hate5Six) to name a few.

The One Step Beyond podcast celebrated its 100th episode on June 29, 2022, with a special episode called “Ask Aram”. This episode featured past podcast guests, including Bridge Nine label founder, Chris Wrenn, asking Aram all types of questions. Click above to check it out on YouTube or listen on Apple podcasts or Spotify. To listen to the original podcast episode with Chris, click here. And congratulations, Aram!

20 Years Ago Today...

20 years ago today the Boston Globe wrote about a music collective called “Initech.” Located a block from Fenway Park in the basement below a Domino's PIzza and a Red Sox souvenir store, it was the mastermind of @ramathomasdavidmayo of @BigWheelRec, an opportunity for he and @aaronbturner (@hydrahead) & Mark Thompson (HH & Tortuga Recordings) to move their labels out of apartments and share resources in one office. I moved in as a Big Wheel employee and when @BridgeNine got too busy in 2001, started paying rent for my own corner for B9 and what would become @SullysBrand. After Rama moved to L.A, @xmattpikex & @mattgalle moved the Kenmore booking agency in. @BryanSheffield was also there working for Doghouse Records when he wasn't taking incredible photos & @JenMalone666's music PR company was upstairs. At the time, I was the least "experienced" person in the mix and had the most to gain by being surrounded by so many inspiring people. It was work, but in that environment you couldn't help but be motivated to grow and get better. Two decades later, everyone from this Class of 2002 seems to be thriving and continuing to inspire, here's to 20 more!

Photo from the shoot for The Boston Globe

This dilapidated door might not look like much, but it opened to an entire world.

Chris Wrenn in the shipping area of the old Initech office, circa 2002. Photo by Casey Davis.

Bridge Nine desk in the Initech office, circa 2002.

Starting to look like a record store in here...

The Bridge Nine side of our new store at 282 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts is starting to look like a record store, in great part due to the master craftsmanship of carpenter Larry Kelley. Chris just added a 2nd coat of primer paint on all of the custom-built record bins, looking forward to seeing these all filled with records, soon! Details about our grand opening will be coming soon, too!